Male,
age around 50. I some times felt little discomfort in the chest.
Gradually the discomfort became more frequent. I went to see the
family doctor about this problem, but the answer was always nothing
wrong.

After times my chest felt much heavier and very uncomfortable, plus
cold sweats. I went to get acupuncture treatment at Houston
Acupuncture and Herb Clinic. Right after the acupuncture treatment,
my chest pressure relieved and the cold sweat stopped. I felt
normal again. I have told by the acupuncturist that I might have
angina, and suggested me to see the specialist to get thorough exam
for my heart. After all the exams, the diagnosis was angina
pectoris.

I
really appreciate the clinic helped me for my severe problem, and
gave me correct information about my sickness. Because of that, I
won’t delay my heart condition to get right treatment.

The
acupuncture and herb treatment helped me a lot for my heart
condition. I have no more chest pain and heaviness.

Testimonial:

R.T. I went
to emergency room for severe heart problem, I almost die.

I have been to Dr Wu for 3 years. He has cured
my heart condition (a cardiologist nearly made me bed ridden), sinus
infections, flu, anxiety…I can honestly say everything I have ever
come in for treatment, I have been successfully healthy.

P. T.

Dr. Wu You have been great. I read a lot about
acupuncture prior to coming and trying it. My question to my self
was, before western medicine how did African and Asia here.

Angina,
or angina pectoris, is a symptom due to coronary atheriosclerosis
heart diseases. Because of the atherosclerosis, it frequently causes
epicardial coronary artery stenosis. The clinical manifestation is
chest pain, pressure or discomfort.

Angina arises from a situation called
myocardial ischemia, which is due to the insufficiency of oxygen and
myocardial blood supply, or vasospasm of coronary arteries. Angina
is a common symptom for coronary heart disease or coronary artery
disease. During the exercise state, the heart rate and myocardial
contraction are increased and it also increases the myocardial
oxygen demand. Therefore the coronary blood flow and oxygen
extraction must be increased to meet the requirement of myocardium.
The maximum of coronary blood flow is about 6 times of the resting
coronary blood flow.

When myocardial ischemia happens, most patients
will feel chest pain in middle or upper part of the chest behind the
sternum. Besides that, the chest pain are also associated with
oppressive, and unpleasant pressure, heaviness, fullness, burning,
crushing and squeezing pain, strangling, suffocation sensation in
the chest, tightness, a heavy weight, or a choking sensation.
Besides the chest discomfort, the discomfort may also be experienced
in the upper back, between the shoulder blades, jaw, and a
constricting sensation in the throat, neck, epigastria, elbow, hand,
or arm. In severe cases, the patient may exhibit nausea, vomiting,
and a pale face with sweating.

Sometimes, the symptoms manifest in the left
side of chest. The discomfort can also radiate to the right side of
the jaw, arm, teeth, and ears. However, the episode of angina
pectoris is temporary and not a heart attack. So the patient should
not worry too much. But it does indicate an increased risk of heart
attack, acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), severe cardiac
arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation.

In Chinese medicine the syndrome of
chest Bi, chest pain, or heart pain results from the vasospasm or
obstruction of heart blood vessels.

The syndrome of chest bi, chest pain, or heart pain is similar to
the angina pectoris and myocardial infarction in Western medicine.
In here, we only discuss the angina. Among the myocardial
infarction. We will discuss later.

Etiology and pathogenesis of heart
pain / chest Bi:

The
Chest Bi and Heart pain is related to the excess and deficiency of
liver, heart, spleen, and kidney. The root of the disease originates
from the deficiency of heart due to the insufficiency of Qi, blood,
Yin, and Yang. Later, the phlegm, blood stasis, Qi stagnation,
accumulation of cold gradually causes the blockage of heart blood
vessels. After that, the chest yang and Qi flow becomes obstructed
due to excessive stimulation from excessive emotion, overeating,
heavy meals, smoking, etc. the vasospasm of heart channel and
blockage of blood develops. In the beginning, the formation and
development of the chest Bi frequently appears as excess syndrome
instead of deficient syndrome. But later, the clinic manifestation
always shows a combination of both excess and deficient syndromes.

The etiology and pathogenesis can be
classified into 4 factors:

1. Inner invasion due to pathogenic cold:

Most patient has a yang deficiency due to a weak constitution. The
deficiency of chest yang with overwork causes the attack of
pathogenic cold. Finally the extreme cold temperature induces the
stagnant Qi and blood accumulation. It result blockage of chest yang
and impairment of Qi flow. The chest Bi is developed.

2. Chest pain due to Improper diet:

a.
Excessive intake of alcohol and carbonated drinks impair the
spleen yang. The transformation and transportation functions of the
spleen are damaged. The transformation of heat damages the yin and
causes the formation of phlegm.

b. Or the impairment of transformation and transportation of
spleen yang result in accumulation of damp heat due to over-eating
of greasy food. The stagnation accumulates in the middle Jiao. The
pathogenic heat overheats the yin and phlegm is subsequently
developed.

a. Anger damages the liver Qi and causes the Liver Qi
stagnation. The stagnation of liver Qi gradually causes the blood
stasis. In the severe cases, the stagnation of liver Qi turns into
fire and depletes the yin. Phlegm is subsequently developed.

b. Or when spleen function is suppressed by liver
stagnation, transportation and transformation of spleen Qi is
restricted due to the obstruction of ascending and descending spleen
Qi. The damp phlegm is therefore accumulated.

c. However, whether the reason is Qi stagnation, blood
stasis, or phlegm obstruction, all can cause the abnormal blood
circulation and narrowing of blood vessels. The chest yang becomes
restricted and Qi dynamic loses the smooth flow. The chest bi
syndrome then develops.

4. Chest pain due to deficiency of liver and kidney:

a. Deficiency of kidney Qi and kidney yang is due to old age,
prenatal deficiency, and excessive sexual activity. Once the kidney
yang becomes deficient, the deficiency of spleen yang and heart yang
will follow. Similarly, once the kidney yin becomes deficient, the
liver yin and heart yin becomes deficient too. The yin and yang
deficiency finally leads to obstruction phlegm, blood stasis,
stagnant Qi, and cold accumulation. Therefore the chest yang becomes
obstruction; the Qi dynamic is not smooth; chest pain is developed
due to vasospasm or obstruction of blood vessels.

Differentiation of character of
chest pain:

1. Determination
of pain characters:

a. Stabbing pain

·

Due to
obstruction of blood stasis

·

Due to
interior obstruction of turbid phlegm

b. Burning pain

·

Due to
yin deficiency of heart and kidney

c. Squeezing pain

·

Due to
accumulation of Yin coldness, called cold accumulation in cardiac
vessel.

2. Houston Acupuncture and Herb Clinic- West Holcombe
Location:
2431 West Holcombe @Kirby
(between
Kirby and Fannin Street), Houston, TX 77030.
Tel: 713-666-5667
The clinic is located at the corner of Kirby Drive
and next to Flower Corner.
☺TEL:
713-666-5667.
Click here for the location
map.